1 00:00:00,090 --> 00:00:03,220 (playful music) 2 00:00:03,220 --> 00:00:05,360 - When the pandemic hit a lot of theaters 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,390 shut off their lights, but here at my theater, 4 00:00:09,390 --> 00:00:10,340 the show must go on. 5 00:00:10,340 --> 00:00:11,670 Hi, my name is Willy Appelman 6 00:00:11,670 --> 00:00:14,500 and I am the Artistic Director of the Apple Theater 7 00:00:14,500 --> 00:00:15,820 in Londonderry, Vermont. 8 00:00:15,820 --> 00:00:18,170 We are the only regional theater in America 9 00:00:18,170 --> 00:00:19,560 that is putting on a show this summer. 10 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:21,280 It's going to be a one man show 11 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:25,110 written, directed, and performed by the same person, me. 12 00:00:25,110 --> 00:00:26,230 Everything is gonna be different. 13 00:00:26,230 --> 00:00:27,530 For starters, there's only gonna be 14 00:00:27,530 --> 00:00:29,420 one audience member per show. 15 00:00:29,420 --> 00:00:31,980 The one audience member will not have to wear a mask. 16 00:00:31,980 --> 00:00:34,170 They're gonna be about 35 feet away from me. 17 00:00:34,170 --> 00:00:35,080 That's safe. 18 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:36,670 You'll get your temperature taken. 19 00:00:36,670 --> 00:00:39,050 You'll sanitize your hands. 20 00:00:39,050 --> 00:00:39,883 You'll come into the theater. 21 00:00:39,883 --> 00:00:40,780 You'll take your seat. 22 00:00:40,780 --> 00:00:44,800 One costume, no set, no backstage crew, no light changes. 23 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:46,580 This is the most minimal show we could do. 24 00:00:46,580 --> 00:00:48,180 If American Airlines can pack a flight, 25 00:00:48,180 --> 00:00:50,290 I figure I can put one audience member 26 00:00:50,290 --> 00:00:52,230 in a 450 seat theater. 27 00:00:52,230 --> 00:00:54,080 Theater is meant to bring joy, 28 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,240 now more than ever, people need a distraction. 29 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,430 People want a performance. 30 00:00:58,430 --> 00:01:01,700 And that is exactly what I will bring to the stage. 31 00:01:01,700 --> 00:01:04,310 Two hours and 45 minutes, no intermission. 32 00:01:04,310 --> 00:01:07,180 And we, for safety reasons, had to close the restrooms. 33 00:01:07,180 --> 00:01:09,540 So please use the bathroom before you come. 34 00:01:09,540 --> 00:01:12,040 Other than that, it's gonna be a great show. 35 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,100 We've sold out more shows in this short run 36 00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:15,750 than we ever have, 37 00:01:15,750 --> 00:01:18,530 primarily 'cause there's only one ticket per performance, 38 00:01:18,530 --> 00:01:21,140 but 75% of our shows are sold out. 39 00:01:21,140 --> 00:01:22,560 So that's really promising. 40 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:23,630 Is this the future of theater? 41 00:01:23,630 --> 00:01:24,630 I don't think so. 42 00:01:24,630 --> 00:01:26,450 Am I gonna make a profit on this performance? 43 00:01:26,450 --> 00:01:28,090 Absolutely not. 44 00:01:28,090 --> 00:01:29,960 Do I think that that one audience member 45 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:33,300 is in for a riveting, stunning night? 46 00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:35,970 Absolutely. It's a reopening night. 47 00:01:35,970 --> 00:01:37,800 Do you have your ticket? 48 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:39,350 And by you I mean that one person 49 00:01:39,350 --> 00:01:42,010 who bought the ticket to opening night, 50 00:01:42,010 --> 00:01:43,376 I think it was my mom. 51 00:01:43,376 --> 00:01:44,960 (audience applauding) 52 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:46,030 - I saw the show 53 00:01:46,030 --> 00:01:48,580 and I can't say I would recommend it to anyone. 54 00:01:48,580 --> 00:01:49,810 There's a lot of eye contact, 55 00:01:49,810 --> 00:01:51,850 a lot of religious stuff that he, 56 00:01:51,850 --> 00:01:53,960 it seemed that he didn't really understand 57 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:54,850 what he was saying. 58 00:01:54,850 --> 00:01:57,090 After every scene he would ask me 59 00:01:57,090 --> 00:01:59,273 if I thought he did a good job. 60 00:02:00,500 --> 00:02:02,700 It's one of the strangest nights of my life.